Hydrant securing device

Abstract

A hydrant securing device is adapted for use on a conventional fire hydrant having an exposed upper valve nut and a pair of caps each formed with a cap nut. The device preferrably comprises a one-piece steel yoke having a generally U-shaped configuration dimensioned for seating directly on the valve and cap nuts. The yoke has a a generally horizontal base formed with an opening dimensioned for location about the valve nut, and a pair of downwardly-directed arms, each arm having an opening dimensioned for location about one of the cap nuts. The openings conform generally to the shape of the nuts and prevent rotation of the nuts relative to the yoke so that the caps cannot be removed and water flow cannot be initiated. The yoke is sufficiently resilient that the arm portions can be elastically separated to permit simultaneous location of the openings about the valve and cap nuts and to permit removal of the hydrant securing device in the event of a fire. Each arm has a strap guide formed by displacing a portion of metal from the associated arm to define a passage between the metal portion and the associated arm. A steel strap clamp is extended through the strap guide passages and crimped to prevent separation of the yoke arms and removal of the device. The strap clamp is snapped with a wrench or other prying tool when access to the hydrant is required.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for use in locking a hydrant having an exposed valve nut and a pair of opposing side outlet caps, each cap being threaded onto a hydrant outlet and having a cap nut be means of which the cap can be rotated relative to the housing outlet, the device comprising: a one-piece yoke having a generally U-shaped configuration including a base portion and a pair of opposing arm portions, the yoke having a passage formed in the base portion and dimensioned to locate about the valve nut, a passage formed in one arm portion and dimensioned to locate about one cap nut and a passage formed in the other arm portion and dimensioned to locate about the other cap nut, the passages being positioned for simultaneous location about the valve and cap nuts, each passage being shaped to prevent rotation of the associated nut relative to the yoke;   the yoke being formed of a material sufficiently resilient that the arm portions can be elastically separated to permit simultaneous location of the passages about the associated valve and cap nuts and removal of the passages from the associated valve and cap nuts;   securing means acting between the arm portions for preventing separation of the arm portions.   
     
     
       2. A hydrant securing device as claimed in claim 1 in which the yoke is formed of an elongate metal plate bent to the generally U-shaped configuration and having the passages cut herein. 
     
     
       3. A hydrant securing device as claimed in claim 1 in which the securing means comprise a strap clamp. 
     
     
       4. A hydrant securing device as claimed in claim 2 in which a strap guide is formed in each of the arm portions, each strap guide comprising a portion of metal displaced from the associated arm portion to define a passage between the metal portion and the associated arm portion. 
     
     
       5. A device for use in locking an exposed valve nut associated with a hydrant against rotation, the hydrant having a pair of opposing side outlet caps, each cap being threaded onto a hydrant outlet and having a cap nut by means of which the cap can be rotated relative to the housing outlet, the device comprising: a one-piece member having a generally U-shaped configuration including a base portion and a pair of opposing arm portions, the one-piece member having a passage formed in the base portion and dimensioned to locate about the valve nut, a passage formed in one arm portion and dimensioned to locate about one cap nut and a passage formed in the other arm portion and dimensioned to locate about the other cap nut, the passage associated with the base portion being dimensioned to prevent rotation of the valve nut relative to the one-piece member when located about the valve nut, the passages being positioned for simultaneous location about the valve nut and the cap nuts;   the one-piece member being formed of a material sufficiently resilient that the arm portions can be elastically separated to permit simultaneous location of the passages about the associated valve and cap nuts such that the one-piece member is fixed against movement relative to the hydrant and to permit disengagement of the valve and cap nuts from the associated passage;   securing means acting between the arm portions for preventing separation of the arm portions.   
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the one-piece member is formed of an elongate metal plate bent to the generally U-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       7. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the securing means comprise a strap clamp. 
     
     
       8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which a strap guide is formed in each of the arm portions, each strap guide comprising a portion of metal displaced from the associated arm portion to device a passage between the metal portion and the associated arm portion. 
     
     
       9. A device for use in securing an exposed valve nut associated with a fire hydrant against rotation, the exposed valve nut being one of a plurality of vlave or cap nuts associated with the fire hydrant comprising: means defining a locking structure which seats directly on each of the plurality of hydrant nuts and has a plurality of passages which receive each of the plurality of hydrant nuts when seated, the passage receiving the valve nut being shaped to prevent rotation of the valve nut being shaped to prevent rotation of the valve nut relative to the structure, the structure being removable from the hydrant by displacing opposing end portions of the structure relative to one another; and   securing means acting directly between the structure end portions for preventing relative displacement of the structure end portions so that the structure is locked to the hydrant.   
     
     
       10. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which the structure is a one-piece member formed of a material sufficiently resilient that the opposing end portions can be displaced elastically relative to one another to permit location of the passages about the plurality of nuts and to permit disengagement of the plurality of nuts from the passages and removal of the structure from the hydrant. 
     
     
       11. A device as claimed in claim 10 in which the securing means comprise a strap clamp.